document_title: List of High School Musical characters

question_text: who plays sharpay evans in high school musical

text: List of High School Musical characters

text: Main cast

text: Troy Bolton

text:
Troy Bolton

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Zac Efron

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Caddy/Waiter
Assistant Golf Instructor

[show]Family

Parents
Jack Bolton (father)
Lucille Bolton (mother)

text: Troy Bolton is the main protagonist of the first three films. Depicted as one of East High's most popular students, Troy is also the captain of the school's varsity basketball team, a position he earned in his junior year after joining the team as a sophomore.[1] The majority of the student body, especially Troy's best friend, Chad Danforth, expects Troy to lead East High to victory. Troy is the only child of Jack and Lucille Bolton; Jack is also the coach of the East High basketball team and puts additional pressure on Troy to excel. Troy is also involved with the school's golf team. In the first film, Troy meets Gabriella Montez at a ski lodge karaoke party on New Year's Eve. When the school year resumes, Troy finds that Gabriella is a new student at East High. For fear of what his father, friends, and classmates would think, Troy asks Gabriella not to mention his singing performance to anybody else. However, the secret eventually gets out when Troy and Gabriella unintentionally audition for the winter musical after singing in the auditorium. The news throws East High's social order out of balance. Troy finds himself having to choose between Gabriella and the musical callbacks or his team and the championship game. Although his friends initially try to thwart Troy's chances of being cast as the musical's lead, they help him make both the game and the callbacks, which had been scheduled on the same afternoon. Troy and Gabriella earn the lead roles, somewhat angering the drama department's president, Sharpay Evans. In High School Musical 2, Sharpay has her mind set on capturing Troy's affections and coming between him and Gabriella. Troy, Gabriella, and their friends are hired at a local country club, Lava Springs, but are weary of their new-found employment when they learn the club is owned by Sharpay's parents. Sharpay uses her wealth, power, and influence over Troy, tempting him with college opportunities in exchange for him singing with her at the club's Midsummer Night Talent Show. Troy gives into Sharpay's plot, causing Gabriella, Chad, and their friends to see Troy as a whole new person. Although Troy is being offered a college scholarship, he soon realizes he must not compromise his character while on the quest for his future, and returns to his old self. In the franchise's third film, Troy once again feels uncertain about his future as high school graduation draws near. While Troy is set to attend the University of Albuquerque, he begins to have second thoughts about other schools he and his father talked about. Coach Bolton and Chad are both insistent on Troy attending the university, but he decides to attend University of California, Berkeley in order to pursue both basketball and theater and to be closer to Gabriella, who enrolls at Stanford University.

text: In the first three films, Troy is portrayed by Zac Efron, with Drew Seeley providing his singing voice in the first film. The reason for this dubbing is still somewhat unclear, although Efron has told Rolling Stone that the songs for the first film were written prior to casting and out of his vocal range.[2] Casting for the role was a multi-audition process, and candidates for the role included Hunter Parrish[3] and Sterling Knight.[4] Efron had previously audition for a Disney Channel pilot that was not picked up by the network a few years prior to casting for High School Musical.[5] Although the franchise will continue with a fourth film, Efron and his character will not be returning.[6]

text: In other media

text: Efron reprised the role in the short film High School Musical 4 on Saturday Night Live.[7]

text: In Life with Archie: Archie Love Veronica: Lodge—A Complaint!, when Betty Cooper is talking about how all the men she has dated have all been nothing but "clone[s] of Archie", she lists Troy Bolton as one of those she has dated.

text: Gabriella Montez

text:
Gabriella Montez

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Vanessa Hudgens

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Other names
Gabby

Occupation
Student
Lifeguard

[show]Family

Parents
Lisa Montez (mother)

text: When the two settle in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gabriella's mother promises they will not relocate until she graduates high school. Gabriella begins attending East High mid-year in the first film. Hoping to escape the "freaky genius girl" reputation she had earned at her previous schools,[8] she does not join any extracurricular activities. Her first friend at East High is Troy Bolton, whom she had met at a ski lodge karaoke party on New Year's Eve, however she quickly makes friends with Taylor McKessie, who finds out about Gabriella's various academic accomplishments and urges her to join the school's nation decathlon team. Gabriella is hesitant, but eventually agrees. Having unearthed a passion for performing at the karaoke party, Gabriella decides to audition for the school musical, but is too late. It is only when the musical's director, Ms. Darbus, overhears Gabriella singing with Troy that she gives them both a callback. Gabriella is uncertain about perusing the lead role, especially when Taylor and the other members of the decathlon team tell her that the musical will take her focus off the upcoming decathlon event. Taylor and her friends stage an intervention, which portrays Troy as not caring about Gabriella or the musical. Heartbroken, Gabriella drops out of the running for the lead role. However, Taylor eventually confesses what she did and helps Gabriella make the decathlon and the musical auditions. Gabriella and Troy earn the lead roles, beating out Sharpay Evans, who had previously tried to thwart her chances of making the callbacks. In the second film, Gabriella has maintained her romance with Troy, and the couple, along with their friends, get jobs at the Lava Springs country club. Seeking revenge, Sharpay lures Troy away from Gabriella and his friends, showering him with various luxuries, including promising college opportunities. After Troy repeatedly breaks his promises and backs out of his commitments, Gabriella breaks up with him, only for the couple to reunite. In High School Musical 3: Senior Year, a Stanford-bound Gabriella is uneasy about the fast pace her life has taken. Before graduation, Gabriella briefly considers taking classes at the local university for a year and going to Stanford when she is ready, much to the dismay of Taylor and Ms. Montez. Troy urges Gabriella to accept an early orientation. Gabriella goes to Stanford but must drop out of the school musical (allowing Sharpay to fill the lead role) and miss prom. Wanting his last dance at East High to be with Gabriella, Troy drives to Stanford and the two share an intimate prom of their own. He convinces Gabriella to return to East High for opening night of the musical and for graduation. Gabriella will attend Stanford and study law. She was referenced by Sharpay in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure.

text: Gabriella, who was named for the daughter of High School Musical writer Peter Barsocchini but modeled after a girl Barsocchini met before his teenage years,[9] is portrayed by Vanessa Hudgens in the first three films of the franchise. Hudgens had previously auditioned for other Disney Channel projects.[5] During auditions, Hudgens was paired with Zac Efron, who landed the role of Troy, at each callback,[10] with director Kenny Ortega saying "We tried to separate them and try them with other partners but it didn’t work. The magic was already there between them."[11] Following Hudgens' 2007 nude photo scandal, reports claimed that Adrienne Bailon and other actresses would replace Hudgens in the third film of the franchise.[12] However, Disney had denied the reports[13] and Hudgens returned for High School Musical 3. Hudgens will not, however, reprise her role for High School Musical 4.[14]

text: Sharpay Evans

text:
Sharpay Evans

High School Musical film series, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure (spinoff) character

Portrayed by
Ashley Tisdale

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Star on Broadway

[show]Family

Parents
Vance Evans (father)
Darby Evans (mother)

Siblings
Ryan Evans (twin brother)

text: Sharpay Evans is the main antagonist of the films and the co-president of the East High drama department alongside her twin brother, Ryan, with whom she has starred in 17 school productions.[15][16] Sharpay appears to have the most power in the drama department, leaving Ryan as her right-hand man. However, the sibling loyalty is not always mutual. Classmate Taylor McKessie suspects that if Sharpay "could figure out how to play both Romeo and Juliet, her own brother would be aced out of a job."[17] Sharpay's family is very affluent; their wealth stems from the country club, Lava Springs, her parents own. In High School Musical, Sharpay is shown as being somewhat popular. Students on campus seem to fear her, as they scour to make room for her in the hallways or cafeteria. Fear also appears to be the reason why other students, such as Kelsi Nielsen, remain a part of Sharpay's posse. Sharpay is sometimes the victim of playful jokes and light teasing from the East High basketball team, despite the fact that one of their star players, Zeke Baylor, has a crush on Sharpay. Sharpay's talents are challenged for the first time when Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton are called back for the lead roles in the musical. To ensure that she and Ryan remain in the spotlight, Sharpay convinces Ms. Darbus, the musical's director, to switch the date of the callbacks to the same day as Troy's district championship basketball game and Gabriella's national decathlon. However, Troy and Gabriella still manage to make the callbacks and are cast in the lead roles of Arnold and Minnie. In the second film, Sharpay seems to have gained more popularity, with adoring fans wanting her signature in their yearbooks at the end of the school year. Sharpay plans to steal Troy away from Gabriella during summer vacation. She has the manager of Lava Springs, Mr. Fulton, hire Troy to work at the country club, ordering him to do so, whatever it takes. The cost of Troy's employment is the employment of Gabriella and their friends. Realizing that she must now try to win Troy's affections with extreme measures, Sharpay brings Troy into the high class world of her family, which eventually leads to his promotion and college opportunities. Sharpay also convinces Troy to sing with her in the Midsummer Night Talent Show, abandoning plans to enter the show with Ryan. Ryan begins to step out of Sharpay's shadow and Troy eventually begins to free himself from Sharpay's grip. Sharpay is unable to perform at the talent show, but does join Troy and Gabriella's duet in the background, along with their other friends. Despite having little involvement in the show, the fixed competition's prize, the Star Dazzle Award, was going to be given to her, but she selflessly awards the prize to her brother, who arranged Troy and Gabriella's duet. By the third film, Sharpay's popularity seems to be limited among admiring boys. In her senior year, Sharpay meets Tiara Gold, a British transfer student eager to learn the ropes at East High by becoming Sharpay's student. Tiara's dedication is impressive, but it turns out to be a facade. On opening night of the spring musical, Tiara attempts to upstage Sharpay, but fails. Sharpay does not received a scholariship to the Juilliard School like she had hoped and will study the dramatic arts at the University of Albuquerque, but has agreed to return to East High to assist Ms. Darbus with the drama department and to continue her reign over Tiara.

text: Sharpay becomes the main protagonist in her independent film, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure, where she believes she is offered a role on Broadway and travels to New York with her dog, Boi. Her father agrees to give her a one-month limit to prove that she can stand on her own: if she fails, then she will work for him at the Lava Springs Country Club. While in New York, she meets Peyton Leverette, the son of her mom's college friend, who takes her to a new apartment after she got thrown out of a penthouse for refusing to throw her dog out. After finding out that the agents really want her dog, not her, she befriends the star, Amber Lee Adams, who manipulates her into doing chores, being her manager in exchange for her dog's role, until she sees Amber Lee's true face. Roger, whose dog is on competition with Sharpay's, helps expose Amber Lee to the world, almost causing the show to be cancelled. Peyton shows a video of Sharpay's secret performance to convince the agents that she can save the show by replacing Amber Lee Adams. Sharpay's performance turns her into a star on Broadway and she starts dating Peyton.

text: Sharpay is portrayed by Ashley Tisdale in the four films of the series. Tisdale, who was previously known for her starring role on the Disney Channel series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody", insists that she was not offered the role of Sharpay and had to audition, also claiming that she almost didn't get the role because the Disney executives did not think she could play the "mean girl" role based on her performance in "The Suite Life".[18] Tisdale said that she went into the auditions at the last minute,[10] but felt very comfortable in front of the Disney executives, as she already knew them.[18] To ensure that viewers loved to hate her character, Tisdale looked to Rachel McAdams' performance in Mean Girls.[18]

text: Ryan Evans

text:
Ryan Evans

High School Musical film series, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure' character

Portrayed by
Lucas Grabeel

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Star

[show]Family

Parents
Vance Evans (father)
Darby Evans (mother)

Siblings
Sharpay Evans (twin sister)

text: Ryan Evans is the twin brother of Sharpay Evans. Like his sister, Ryan is very much involved with musical theater and performing. However, his interests do not end at theater, as he also enjoys playing baseball and won the junior league world series sometime before the film series. Ryan is well known for wearing different styles of hats. In the first film, Ryan is depicted as being dim-witted and completely submissive to Sharpay, though this could be because he likes Troy and Gabriella. When Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez threaten Ryan and Sharpay's chances of being cast as the leads at East High's winter musical, Ryan assists Sharpay in making sure Troy and Gabriella's scheduled conflict with the callback dates. The plan falls through and Troy is cast in the lead role. In High School Musical 2, Ryan plans on enjoying the summer at his family's country club, Lava Springs, and entering the Midsummer Night Talent Show with Sharpay. However, he begins to step out of his sister's shadow when she decides to enter the talent show with Troy. Ryan decides to help Gabriella and her friends, who have felt abandoned by Troy, stage an act for the talent show. This causes a rift in his relationship with Sharpay, who still expects him to be at her side. In the end, Ryan is awarded the Star Dazzle Award at the talent show for his directional work. In the third film of the franchise, with more independence by himself and being less controlled by his sister, Ryan is a candidate for a scholarship to the Juilliard School for dance. He is competing for one scholarship with Sharpay, Troy, and shy composer Kelsi Nielsen. The school's scouts will attend opening night of the East High spring musical to determine who will be the recipient. Ryan is the choreographer of the show while Kelsi is the composer. Through their work together, Ryan attend prom together with Kelsi, but only as friends. He receive a scholarship to Juilliard.

text: At the end of Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure, Ryan is on a break from his musical tour around the country and pays a visit to his sister Sharpay after she became a star on Broadway to congratulate her. While Sharpay goes to chase Boi, Ryan enjoys her bed until it folds back into the closet, taking Ryan with it.

text: Ryan is played by Lucas Grabeel in the first three installments of the franchise. Corbin Bleu, who was later cast as Chad Danforth, auditioned for the role of Ryan.[10] Grabeel had previously appeared in Disney Channel's Halloweentown High.

text: Only after the end of the franchise, David Simpatico, one of the writers, revealed Ryan's homosexuality, described he as a "coded gay" – characters without revealed sexuality by the rules of the studios, a controversial topic when talking to children and teenagers.[19] Ortega based the character on his own adolescence: "I see a lot of myself in Ryan. Yeah, I knew I was gay in high school, but I didn't tell anybody".[20]

text: Chad Danforth

text:
Chad Danforth

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Corbin Bleu

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Caddy/Waiter

[show]Family

Parents
Charlie Danforth (father)
Jenny Danforth (mother)

text: Chad Danforth is Troy Bolton's best friend and teammate. Chad is known for wearing shirts with eccentric phrases and messages on them. In the third film, those messages are all environment-friendly. In High School Musical, Chad is gearing up for the district championship basketball game and assumes Troy, also the team captain, is doing the same. However, news soon spreads around school that Troy and Gabriella Montez, a new student, have auditioned for the school musical and have been called back for the lead roles. Hoping to keep Troy's head in the game, Chad and his teammates stage an intervention while Taylor McKessie and her friends, who want Gabriella to stay focused on the national decathlon team, do the same with Gabriella. The plan is successful, but Chad and Taylor soon realize that they hurt their close friends. After admitting their guilt, they help Troy and Gabriella make the callbacks, as well as the game and decathlon. At the end of the film, Chad asks Taylor on a date. In the second film, Chad and Taylor seem to have maintained a relationship. Hoping to save up for a car, Chad takes a job at the Lava Springs country club for the summer, alongside Troy, Gabriella, Taylor, and their friends. Chad reluctantly agrees to participate with the other employees in the Midsummer Night Talent Show at the club. His friendship with Troy also hits a wall when Troy compromises himself for luxuries at the country club. The two, however, make up. In High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Chad is looking forward to playing basketball with Troy at the University of Albuquerque following high school graduation. He is initially upset when Troy decides to attend the University of California, Berkeley instead, but accepts the fact that he and Troy cannot stay together forever. Chad also struggles with asking Taylor to prom, but finally succeeds after several tries.

text: Corbin Bleu portrays Chad Danforth in the first three films of the franchise. Bleu originally auditioned for the role of Ryan Evans, but was suggested for the role of Chad instead.[10] Bleu had auditioned for Disney Channel projects in the past.[5]

text: Taylor McKessie

text:
Taylor McKessie

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Monique Coleman

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Event/Activities Coordinator

[show]Family

Siblings
Unnamed older sister

text: Taylor McKessie is the president of the science club at East High and a member of the school's national decathlon team. Taylor is a feminist and admires many important women in history. She is also shown to have a wide range of knowledge, including anything from computers to the daily lunch special in the school cafeteria. In the first film, she is shown as finding the school's athlete as tribal. She is also impressed at the intellect of new student Gabriella Montez. Articles of Gabriella's academic achievements at her old schools are placed in Taylor's locker. Although Gabriella did not slip the articles in the locker, she agrees to join the decathlon team at Taylor's suggestion. However, when Gabriella's interest begins to turn to the school musical and Troy Bolton, Taylor teams up with Troy's best friend, Chad, to make sure they can keep their friends away from one another and focused on the prize. While Chad and his basketball teammates explain to Troy that they will not win the district championship game if he is involved with the musical, they film him saying that the musical and Gabriella are not important. Taylor show Gabriella the footage and she is left heartbroken. Realizing the magnitude of what they have done, Taylor and Chad work together again to make sure Troy and Gabriella make the musical callbacks. Taylor's role in the plan is to set off a chemical reaction that would result in the evacuation of the national decathlon. At the end of the film, Taylor is asked out by Chad. In High School Musical 2, Taylor, Gabriella, Chad, Troy, and their friends are hired at the Lava Springs country club, owned by the parents of Sharpay Evans, the school drama queen. Taylor is the first to notice that Troy is changing and being pulled into Sharpay's world. She tries to convince Gabriella that Troy is no longer the nice guy she fell for. In High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Taylor is editor of the school yearbook. While she will attend Yale University and study political science (with the goal of becoming President of the United States), she pushes Gabriella to accept an early orientation at Stanford University while joining the others for a last spring musicale.

text: Taylor is portrayed by Monique Coleman in the first three films of the series. Coleman had previously auditioned for Disney Channel.[5]

text: Other East High students

text: Kelsi Nielsen

text:
Kelsi Nielsen

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Olesya Rulin

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Pianist

text: Kelsi Nielsen is a songwriter and composer and student at East High. She is very introverted and is very intimidated by Sharpay Evans, the president of the school's drama department. In High School Musical, Ms. Darbus, the director of the school's winter musical, allows Kelsi to compose the music. During the auditions, Sharpay and her brother, Ryan, perform one of Kelsi's original songs, "What I've Been Looking For", but with an upbeat arrangement. When Kelsi tells Sharpay that she imagined the song to be much slower, Sharpay belittles her and Kelsi retreats. After auditions, Kelsi is approached by Troy and Gabriella, who tell her she does not have to be intimidated by Sharpay. She offers to show them how the song they sang is supposed to sound. Troy and Gabriella sing the duet ballad and Ms. Darbus, who had re-entered the auditorium, gives them a callback. Kelsi works with Troy and Gabriella to ensure that they beat out Sharpay and Ryan for the lead roles. The second film shows Kelsi, Troy, Gabriella, and their friends working at the Lava Springs country club, which is owned by Sharpay's family. Kelsi's job is playing the piano in the dining room. She is also the rehearsal pianist for Sharpay. She has a mutual love interest in Jason Cross, but never been shown a relationship. Although, in the third film he attends prom with Ryan when he invites her to work together, but only as friends. Kelsi receive scholarships for the Juilliard School, where she will study music.

text: Kelsi is portrayed by Olesya Rulin in the first three films of the series. Rulin, who had previously starred in Disney Channel's Halloweentown High alongside Lucas Grabeel, was cast in her High School Musical role immediately after her own high school graduation.[21]

text: Zeke Baylor

text:
Zeke Baylor

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Chris Warren, Jr.

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Chef

text: Zeke Baylor is one of East High's most talented basketball players. He appears to be very close to Jason Cross, Troy Bolton, and Chad Danforth. He also is attracted to Sharpay Evans. In High School Musical, he is one of several students to reveal a secret passion following Troy Bolton's audition for the school musical. Zeke's passion is baking, which impresses Sharpay at the end of the film. In High School Musical 2, Zeke is one of many East High students to be hired to work at Sharpay's family's country club, Lava Springs. He assists Chef Michael in the kitchen. His crush on Sharpay still remains, but the two are not seen together until the end of the film. In High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Sharpay asks Zeke to prom and he joins his friends in a final musical, but also has to work hard to pass his Family Science Class.

text: Chris Warren, Jr. portrays Zeke in the first three High School Musical films. Although his character graduates in the third film, Warren stated after High School Musical 2 that he planned to appear in two more sequels, indicating possible involvement in High School Musical 4: East Meets West.[22]

text: Jason Cross

text:
Jason Cross

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Ryne Sanborn

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Dishwasher

text: Jason Cross is a member of the East High School boys' varsity basketball team and one of Troy Bolton, Chad Danforth, and Zeke Baylor's good friends. He tends to ask questions or make statements that make him come off as a kiss-up or unintelligent. In High School Musical, he works as a bus boy at Lava Springs country club. He has a mutual love interest in Kelsi Nielsen, but never been shown a relationship. In the third film he attends prom with Martha Cox, but only as good friends, when Kelsi goes with Ryan. While he joins his friends on a final musical before graduation, he also has to spend time to study for his finals. At the end of the movie, he finally earns enough scores to graduate.

text: Jason is portrayed by Ryne Sanborn in the first three films of the series.

text: Martha Cox

text:
Martha Cox

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Kaycee Stroh

First appearance
High School Musical

Last appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Culinary Assistant

text: Martha Cox is an East High School student and member of the national decathlon team. In wake of Troy's audition for the winter musical in High School Musical, Martha confesses that she enjoys hip-hop dancing. In High School Musical 2, Martha works at the Lava Springs country club as part of the kitchen staff. She becomes a cheerleader in the third film and participates in a final musical with her friends.

text: Martha is portrayed by Kaycee Stroh in the first three films in the franchise. Stroh took some of her dance students to audition for High School Musical as background dancers . Director Kenny Ortega pulled her aside and asked her to audition for the role of Martha, choosing her.[23]

text: Tiara Gold

text:
Tiara Gold

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Jemma McKenzie-Brown

First appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student
Personal Assistant

text: Tiara Gold is a British transfer student who takes a job as Sharpay Evans' assistant to learn the ropes at East High. She shows some initial interest in musical theater, but is careful not to upstage Sharpay. Due to her dedicated presence during rehearsals for the spring musical, Ms. Darbus casts Tiara as an understudy. Tiara later overhears Gabriella Montez talking to Taylor McKessie about an early orientation at Stanford University, which would make Gabriella unable to perform as the lead in the musical. Tiara informs Sharpay, who is impressed by her dedication. Gabriella leaves for the orientation, allowing Sharpay to take over her part. Tiara, in turn, takes over Sharpay's former role. During opening night, Sharpay is embarrassed after having to perform with Jimmie Zara, Troy Bolton's understudy. When she goes back to her dressing room, she finds Tiara in her costume. Tiara tells Sharpay that she is the new queen of the drama department and that it is time for Sharpay to move aside. Sharpay, in retaliation, upstages Tiara onstage. Later, Tiara learns that Sharpay will be returning occasionally to East High after graduation to help Ms. Darbus with the drama department and, undoubtedly, continue to upstage Tiara.

text: Tiara is portrayed by Jemma McKenzie-Brown in High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Disney star Selena Gomez has admitted to turning down the role,[24] while Ali Lohan reportedly auditioned for the role.[25] Although Brown was originally set to star in High School Musical 4: East Meets West,[26] it has since been confirmed that she will not reprise her role.[27]

text: Jimmie Zara

text:
Jimmie Zara

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Matt Prokop

First appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Other names
"Rocketman", "The Rocket"

Occupation
Student

text: Jimmie Zara, also known as "the Rocket" or "Rocketman", is a member on the East High School boys' varsity basketball team. In the final game of High School Musical 3: Senior Year, he is used as somewhat of a secret weapon and scores the winning basket. He looks up to Troy Bolton and has a small crush on Sharpay Evans. He is Troy's understudy for the spring musical and is able to perform with Sharpay on opening night.

text: Matt Prokop portrays Jimmie in the third film of the series. Disney star Tony Oller auditioned for this role.[28] Prokop has stated that he signed on for three potential films, including High School Musical 3.[29] However, Prokop has since confirmed that he will not be in the fourth film, as Disney wanted to go in a new direction.[30]

text: Donny Dion

text:
Donny Dion

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Justin Martin

First appearance
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Created by
Peter Barsocchini

Profile

Occupation
Student

text: Donny Dion is a member of the East High School boys' varsity basketball team. It is unclear whether or not he is a player or an equipment manager or towel boy. Nevertheless, he looks up to Chad Danforth and evens asks to have Chad's gym locker after he graduates. His best friend is Jimmie Zara. Donny is portrayed by Justin Martin in High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Martin almost gave up on auditioning for the roll because the casting directors told him he was too little.[31]

text: Susan

text: Susan is a girl who auditions for the winter musical but did not get the role even though Ms. Darbus was impressed with some hand gestures she made. She is portrayed by Anne Kathryn Parma.

text: Alan

text: Alan is a boy who auditions for the winter musical but did not get the role. He is portrayed by Nick Whitaker.

text: Cyndra

text: Cyndra is a girl who auditions for the winter musical and is not happy when she does not get the role. She is portrayed by Falcon Grace.

text: Other characters

text: Peyton Leverett

text:
Peyton Leverett

High School Musical film series character

Portrayed by
Austin Butler

First appearance
Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure

Profile

Occupation
Student of New York University

[show]Family

Parents
Unnamed mother

text: Peyton Leverett is the male protagonist and love interest of Sharpay Evans in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure. He is a film student at New York University who is assigned by his mother to keep an eye on Sharpay while she's in town, and immediately finds her interesting and decides to make her his filming subject of "A special story in New York".

text: He is the one who helps Sharpay locate a studio apartment, encourages her to pursue her dreams, adapt to her surroundings and reminds her of who she really is when she is about to lose herself. When Sharpay becomes Amber Lee Adam's secretary, she loses time to spend with Peyton. Peyton becomes frustrated with her ignorance to Amber Lee's ambitions, Boi and Countess's newfound relationship and lack of time to spend with him. The two have an argument and Peyton drops her from his project until she apologizes to him the next day.

text: After Amber Lee quit the show, Peyton shows the agents and producers a video of Sharpay's secret rehearsal to prove that she can save the show. The producers are so impressed by her performance that they re-hire Sharpay as the lead of "A Girl's Best Friend". Sharpay expresses her worries and anxiety, but Peyton manages to help her maintain confidence and then kisses her. He is last seen greeting Sharpay's parents seconds before the show starts.

text: Peyton is portrayed by Austin Butler, who had also starred with Ashley Tisdale in Aliens in the Attic, where they played each other's paternal cousins.

text: Roger Elliston

text: Roger Elliston is a young, wealthy boy who shares most of Sharpay's personality and appears in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure, where he and Sharpay compete each other to win a role for their dogs. He continuously attempts to win the role for his dog, Countess, by cheating. Eventually, he and Sharpay find out that Amber Lee Adams has forced to producers to remove the dogs from the show, and both are forced to come together to reveal Amber Lee Adams' true image to the world.

text: Although they manage to expose Amber Lee's true self to the world, this results in Amber Lee quitting the show, Sharpay getting fired and almost causing the show to be cancelled. When the producers re-hire Sharpay, she demands that Boi and Countess share the role of Shelby equally, much to Roger's pleasure.

text: Roger is portrayed by Bradley Steven Perry.

text: Amber Lee Adams

text: Amber Lee Adams is a support character who appears in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure. She is a famous film star who is about to hired as the main character on Broadway in a show called "A Girl's Best Friend". She is always sweet and kind to those around her, but that is only for her image. In truth, she is self-absorbed, demanding, mean, and manipulative, much like Sharpay in the previous films.

text: She fires her secretary for being late and then hires Sharpay to do her chores and keep check of her schedules, and manipulates her to do her bidding by acting kind in front of her. In the end, she gets tired of the dogs, Boi and Countess, and demands the producers remove the dogs from the show. Sharpay hears this and works with Roger to expose Amber Lee's true face to the world.

text: Amber Lee Adams is played by Cameron Goodman.

text: Parents and adults

text:
Jack Bolton is Troy Bolton's father and the coach of the East High boys' varsity basketball team. He is angry when he finds out that Troy auditioned for the school musical weeks before the district championship game in. He voices his disapproval but changes his mind when he sees how talented Troy is. When Troy begins working at the Lava Springs country club, Jack advises Troy to keep his eye on college. Jack is once again angry with Troy when he learns Troy is considering other schools besides the University of Albuquerque; however, he comes to terms with Troy's decision to enroll at the University of California, Berkeley. Coach Bolton is played by Bart Johnson in the first three films of the series.
Ms. Darbus is the overly-dramatic musical director at East High. Her classroom serves as homeroom for Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montez, Sharpay Evans, Ryan Evans, Chad Danforth, Taylor McKessie, Kelsi Nielsen, and other students. She has an intense dislike of cell phones, particularly when they ring in the theater. She and coworked Coach Jack Bolton do not always see eye-to-eye. In the first film, Ms. Darbus is convinced that Troy and Gabriella only auditioned for the musical to mock it. In the end, she casts them as the leads. In High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Ms. Darbus submits Troy's name for a scholarship to the Juilliard School without his knowledge. Ms. Darbus is portrayed by Alyson Reed in the films.
Lisa Montez is the single mother of Gabriella Montez. Gabriella has stated that she and her mother relocated several times. They move to Albuquerque halfway through Gabriella's junior year, and she promises Gabriella that it is a permanent arrangement until she graduates. Lisa is very proud of Gabriella for being accepted to Stanford University and does not agree with her daughter when she suggests taking a year off after high school. As Gabriella's graduation approaches, Lisa puts the house up for sale. It is unclear what happened to her husband; he has only been mentioned once, by Gabriella as she recollects her childhood, and is presumably dead. Lisa is portrayed by Socorro Herrera in the first and third films.
Vance Evans is the wealthy father of Sharpay and Ryan Evans and the owner of the Lava Springs country club. He holds the highest record on the club's golf course, which he built himself. His alma mater is the University of Albuquerque. He is very impressed by Troy Bolton and offers him opportunities through his connections with the university. Vance is portrayed by Robert Curtis Brown in the second and third films.
Darby Evans is the wealthy mother of Sharpay and Ryan Evans and the wife of Vance Evans. She approves the hiring of several East High students to the Lava Springs country club, much to the dismay of Sharpay, who only wanted Troy Bolton to work there. She is very interested in yoga, has a unique relationship with both students, and is unskilled at golf. She is portrayed by Jessica Tuck in the second and third films.
Thomas Fulton is the manager of the Lava Springs country club. He is obligated to take Sharpay Evans' orders. In doing so, he hires Troy Bolton to work at the club. He is uptight and prefers structure and discipline. He is portrayed by Mark L. Taylor in High School Musical 2.
Dave Matsui is the principal of East High. He is first seen welcoming Gabriella Montez to East High. He also seems to have to deal with the quarrels between Coach Jack Bolton and Ms. Darbus. He insists that they need to learn to work together, although he seems to have more interest in Coach Bolton's side of the argument. Principal Matsui is portrayed by Joey Miyashima in High School Musical and High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
Lucille Bolton is Troy Bolton's mother and Jack Bolton's wife. She is depicted as being somewhat annoyed with Troy and Jack's extreme dedication to basketball. Lucille is portrayed by Leslie Wing in the first three installments of the series.
Charlie Danforth is the father of Chad Danforth and friend of Jack Bolton. He is portrayed by Corbin Bleu's real-life father, David Reivers in the third film. His unnamed wife is portrayed by Yolanda Wood in the third film.
An unnamed chemistry teacher at East High. She is portrayed by Irene Santiago-Baron.
Ms. Falstaff is a librarian at East High. In the first film, she constantly reminds Chad to keep quiet in the library. She is portrayed by Joyce Cohen.

text: Others

text:
Jackie, Lea, and Emma are Sharpay Evans' friends, sometimes called the "Sharpettes". The girls are sometimes collectively known as the Sharpettes, as they often act as back-up singers and dancers for Sharpay, but are never referred to as such in the film series. It is apparent that they do not attend East High School and spend the majority of their time with Sharpay during the summer at her family's country club, Lava Springs. They seem to be equally as pampered as Sharpay, but always follow her every order. Jackie, Lea, and Emma are only portrayed in High School Musical 2, by Tanya Chisholm, Kelli Baker, and McCall Clark, respectively. Baker had a role as a cheerleader and dancer in the first film.
Boi is Sharpay's dog who appears in High School Musical 2, High School Musical 3: Senior Year and Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure, Boi is taken to New York with Sharpay. He is given an opportunity to participate in a play called "A Girl's Best Friend" on Broadway, which Sharpay initially believed was her opportunity until the casting agent clarified her mistake. Boi meets another dog called Countess and they fall in love with each other, but their owners initially fail to see their affections. He is portrayed by director Kenny Ortega's dog, Manly "Little Pickles" Ortega.
Countess is Roger Elliston's well-trained dog who appears in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure. Countess meets another dog called Boi and they fall in love with each other, but their owners initially fail to see their affections.
Lupe, Tiffany and Dena are Sharpay's friends in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure who help her to show her father that she's determined to take an offer for Broadway. They are portrayed by Alessandra Cannito, Lauren Collins and Shadia Ali, respectively.
Jerry Taylor is a famous Broadway producer who offers Sharpay's dog, Boi, the chance to star in his latest show. He is portrayed by Pat Mastroianni in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure.
Gill Samms is a producer of Jerry's show. He is portrayed by Alec Mapa in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure.
Neal Roberts is another producer of Jerry's show. He is portrayed by Jack Plotnick in Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure.


document_title: Rugby league gameplay

question_text: how many points for a field goal in rugby league

question_tokens: how many points for a field goal in rugby league

root

text: Rugby league gameplay

text: Basics[edit]

text: Field[edit]

text: A game of rugby league consists of two forty-minute halves, played by two teams on a rectangular grass field of 120 metres in length and 58–68 metres in width depending on the individual ground. In the middle of the field is the 50-metre "halfway" line.  Each side of the field, on either side of the 50-metre line, is identical. 10 metres from the 50-metre line is the 40-metre line, followed by the 30, 20, 10-metre and goal or 'try' lines.  This makes up 100 metres of field that is used for general play (JK).

tag: p

text: At the middle of each goal line is a set of goal posts in the shape of the letter 'H', used for point scoring from kicks (drop goals, penalty goals and conversions).  Six to twelve metres beyond each goal-line is the dead ball line. The area between these two lines is called the in-goal area, and varies from field to field.

text: The dead ball lines and the touch-lines (side lines) make up the boundary of the field of play. If the ball (or any part of the body of a player in possession of the ball) touches the ground on or beyond any of these lines, the ball is said to be dead and play must be restarted.

text: Players[edit]

text: Players of rugby league all need to be particularly physically fit and tough because of the game's fast pace and the expansive size of the playing-field as well as the inherently rough physical contact involved. Depending on their exact role or position, a player's size, strength and/or speed can provide different advantages (or disadvantages). Effective teamwork is also extremely important as all players must work in concert with each other if they are to be successful.

text: Mode of play[edit]

text: After a coin toss with the two captains and referee, the winner elects to either kick off or receive the kick off and chooses which end of the field to attack for the first half (the ends changing over after the half-time break).

text:
Play commences once the ball has been kicked off from the ground in the centre of the field by one team to the other.  The longer and higher the kick, the more advantageous, as this forces the team receiving the ball to return it from deeper within their own territory.  However a kick that is too long or misdirected and goes out of the field of play without first bouncing in it results in a penalty being awarded to the non-kicking team from the halfway line. Conversely though if the kickoff exits the field of play after a bounce or more, the kicking team receives possession at the point of entry.
A short kick off may be employed to regain possession, but it must travel at least beyond the 10 metre line; they are usually attempted towards the end of closely fought matches when time is scarce and points are needed.

text: Each team is responsible for defending their end of the field, and they take turns throughout a game at defending and attacking. At half-time (the 40th minute of the game), the teams have a 10-minute break, then swap ends before resuming play.

text: The team with possession of the football is the team in attack.  The primary aim of this team is to 'work' the ball out from their own end of the field, into a more favourable position towards the opposition's end, and score a try by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area or on the goal line.  In some circumstances the team in attack may opt to kick a one-point drop goal instead of attempting to score a try.  Scoring will at least involve first gaining field position and, in the case of scoring a try, will almost certainly involve breaking the opposition's defensive line.

text: The objective of the defensive side is to prevent the team in possession from scoring and obtaining their shorter term objectives. The defensive team carries out these objectives by:

text:
maintaining the defensive line
providing last-ditch defenders
preventing a try

tag: ul

text: Favourable field position is an important aim in rugby league, a goal present in the minds of players at almost all times. Possession of the ball is the primary aim of each team. When in possession the aim is to maintain possession and score by running in packs and trying to minimise ball-handling errors and penalties conceded (which always result in a changeover of possession). When not in possession the aim is to prevent the opposition from scoring, prevent or reduce the incidence of the opposition carrying the ball forward, and ultimately to gain possession of the ball.

text: Point scoring[edit]

text: There are four ways to score points in rugby league: tries and conversions, penalty goals and drop goals.

text: The try is worth four points and is the primary means of scoring in rugby league. To score a try, the ball must be placed with controlled downward pressure on the goal line (also called the try line) or in the in-goal area between the goal line and the dead ball line using the hand, forearm or torso area. This is referred to as grounding the football. If the player scoring the try is also being tackled at the same time, the try must be completed before or at the moment the tackle is completed.  Occasionally, when it is deemed that a try would certainly have been scored were it not for a rule infringement of a defending player, a penalty try can be awarded (instead of a regular penalty) directly under the goal posts regardless of where the offence took place.  Because of the certainty the referee must have that the try "would have" been scored, penalty tries are uncommon.

text: Even more uncommon are 8-Point tries, where in the process of a try being scored; a severe infringement by the defensive team has been committed; such as a dangerous tackle or ensuing violence. In this circumstance four points are awarded for the try and two attempts are allowed at goal; one in line with the try and the other directly in front, giving a possible 8 points.

text: Following a try, the scoring team has a chance to convert the try from four points to six with a place kicked goal over the crossbar and between the uprights of the goal-posts; this is known as a conversion and the six-point total is known as a converted try. The kick may be taken from a position perpendicular to the goal line opposite the location that the try was scored. The kick may be taken as close or as far from the goal line as the kicker prefers. In Europe and under the international rules it is also permissible to take the conversion attempt with a drop kick rather than a place kick.[1] Try-scorers will sometimes attempt to "improve the angle" for the kicker by grounding the football as close to the goal-posts as possible.

text:
Change in scoring values over time[2][3]

Period

Try

Conversion

Penalty

Drop goal

Field goal

Goal from mark

1895–1897

3
2
3
4
4
4

1897–1922

3
2
2
2
2
2

1922–1950

3
2
2
2
2
–

1950–1971

3
2
2
2
-
–

1971–1983

3
2
2
1
-
–

1983–present

4
2
2
1
-
–

tag: table

text:
When a team is awarded a penalty, they are given the choice of taking a two-point penalty kick from the point that the offence took place, or attacking with a set of six tackles in the hope of scoring a four-point try. Depending on the proximity to the goal posts and other circumstances of the game, the team's captain will choose which option they feel is the more appropriate. As with other goals, the kick must pass both over the crossbar and between the uprights of the goal-posts.
In the event of a foul being committed on a player as or after that player succeeds in scoring a try, the scoring team will be awarded a penalty kick in addition to the conversion attempt. In such a circumstance, the conversion attempt is taken in line with where the ball was grounded, followed by a penalty goal attempt taken from directly in front of the goal posts, regardless of the spot of the foul. Should both kicks be successful, this event is often referred to as an 8-point try. The 8-point try differs from a penalty try, because the attacking player must have successfully scored the try.
A drop goal (also known as a field goal) is worth only one point and is thus the least chosen method of scoring. It is attempted during general play, and to be valid must be made by a drop kick, and as with penalty and conversion goals, must pass both over the crossbar and between the uprights of the goal-posts. Drop goals are usually attempted when in good field position in an attempt to secure a win late in a close game or when the scores are within a converted try (6 points) of each other so that, if successful, their opponents must score a minimum of two times to avoid losing. Less commonly, drop goals may be attempted just before half-time, to secure the most points scored in the first half. Additionally, it is a common way to win matches in competitions that use golden point extra time to decide games that are tied after normal time has elapsed. Unnecessary or unlikely attempts at Field Goal have become less common with the advent of the Zero tackle rule, with a miss generally resulting in a Seven-tackle set restart from the 20m line for the opposing side.

text: Points scored differ from rugby union, where a try, conversion, penalty, and drop goal score 5, 2, 3, and 3 points respectively.

text: Passing[edit]

text: Players on the team with possession may pass the ball to one another while trying to reach the opposition's end of the field.  A player may only pass the ball behind him, or across the field parallel to the goal line.  Therefore, the rest of the players on the team in possession must ensure that they are 'on-side', and in a position to legally receive the ball by staying behind or in-line with the passer.  A pass deemed to have propelled the ball forward is called a 'forward pass' and results in an immediate halt to play and changeover of possession.  Passes are also susceptible to interception by enterprising players on the defensive team who anticipate the pass and rush up to catch it, winning possession for their team.

text: Tackling[edit]

text: The defensive team tries to stop the attacking team from scoring by tackling the player with the ball as quickly as possible to prevent him gaining more ground. A tackle forces a halt in play for as long as it takes the tackled player to return to his feet and play the ball. In that time, the defending team, with the exception of two markers, must move back a minimum of 10 metres towards their end of the field. The attacking team restarts play and continues with its next chance to score via the play-the-ball. After each tackle the attacking team should be closer to their opposition's end of the field. A 2012 New Zealand study found that over 659 tackles are made per game in professional rugby league.[4] Of all the rugby league positions, second-row forward averages the most tackles.[5]

text: Six tackle rule[edit]

text: Since 1972, an attacking team has a set of six chances to score, often referred to as six tackles. The referee keeps track of how many tackles have been performed in each set of six. Some referees choose to shout the number of tackles (to avoid any players' confusion as to what point in the tackle count it is); however, this is not a requirement. When a side has used five tackles, the referee signals "fifth tackle" by raising an arm above his head with fingers spread, indicating that five of the tackles in the set have taken place and the next tackle will be the last.

text: If a sixth tackle is made, a change-over takes place. The defending and attacking teams switch roles, and the new attacking team starts its own set of six by playing the ball at the point on the field where the last tackle was made. Usually the attacking team kicks the ball onwards after the fifth tackle in either a last-ditch attempt to score, or to force the opposition to start their next set of six tackles as far back as possible.

text: An attacking team may also have seven chances to score in a special circumstance, governed by the zero tackle rule.

text: Play-the-ball[edit]

text: Play-the-ball is used to restart play in various instances during a game, but most-commonly immediately following a tackle. The act of the play-the-ball is sometimes referred to simply as 'playing the ball'. To return the ball to play correctly, the tackled player must:

text:
have stopped forward progress (i.e., been tackled);
have both feet on the ground;
place the ball on the ground in front of one foot and;
roll the ball backwards by use of the boot.

tag: ol

text: From the moment the ball is rolled back by the tackled player's boot, the next phase of play begins.  The 'dummy half' is the term used to refer to the player who then picks up the ball and resumes his team's attack.

text: The ruck is located between the player playing-the-ball and the defending marker.[6] The ruck exists during the time between a tackle being completed and the subsequent play-the-ball being completed.[7] The ball cannot be interfered with by a defending player whilst it is in the ruck, otherwise a penalty will be issued against that player's team. A penalty is also issued against the attacking team if the player responsible for playing the ball, does not play it correctly.  Many penalties in rugby league occur in and around the ruck.

text: Miscellaneous rules[edit]

text: Offside[edit]

text: Following a completed tackle, all but two of the defending team (the markers, see below) must retreat at least ten metres from the point at which the tackle is made. This distance is marked by the referee. Following the play-the-ball, defenders are permitted to advance to try to put pressure on the attackers and to reduce the distance they can make with the ball. If a defender who has failed to retreat 10 metres interferes with play, then he will be deemed to have been offside and this will result in a penalty to the attacking team. Equally, if a defender advances too quickly before the ball is played, then this will also result in a penalty to the attackers. When a player kicks the ball their teammates must be behind them or they will be called for offside if they interfere with the play.

text: Knock on[edit]

text: If at any time the ball is dropped forwards by an attacker and hits the ground or another player, this constitutes a knock on and possession will be turned over. The only exception is if a player is performing a drop-kick. If the ball is dropped in a backwards motion, this will not be ruled as a knock-on. Equally, if a player fumbles the ball but manages to regather it before it hits the ground, an opponent or teammate, then play will be allowed to continue. (Floating forward but landing backwards ends in a knock on)

text: Scrum[edit]

text: The scrum is formed by the 'front row' forwards of each side locking together, and 'packing down' to push against each other. The 'second row' forwards pack in behind the front rows, and the loose forward join the scrum at the back. The ball is "fed" through the legs of one of the props by the halfback, who normally then retrieves it again from the back of the scrum.

text: The scrum was traditionally used as a mechanism where the two teams compete for possession of the football; however this has since changed with the introduction of fair, but uncontested[8] scrums, where the ball is fed into the second row, instead of the first, all but eliminating an effective competition for the ball. Because of these changes the scrum serves to simply remove the forwards from the play for a period, thus creating more space for the backs to attack the depleted defensive line. This is intended to give advantage to the side that is awarded the scrum. It is very rare (but not completely unknown) for a team to win possession of the ball, despite not having the feed, though in such situations the referee may restart the scrum.

text: A scrum can be awarded following a forward pass, knock on or the ball going over the sideline and into touch.

text: Zero tackle rule[edit]

text: If the defending team 'knocks on' or touches the ball when it's in the air, and the ball is immediately regathered by the attacking team, the referee may elect to restart the tackle count in lieu of awarding a scrum; known as the zero tackle rule because the next tackle is counted as 'tackle zero' and not the usual 'tackle one'. The zero tackle rule cannot be used in a set that was started by the zero tackle rule. On awarding the zero tackle rule, the referee will shout "Back to zero!" or "Six again", and wave one arm over his head with fingers clenched into a fist, indicating the attacking side's next tackle is tackle zero. If a player collects the ball directly from an opposition kick in general play, the first time he is tackled does not register on the tackle count. If the receiving player kicks or passes the ball prior to being tackled then this does not apply.

text: Markers[edit]

text: During the play-the-ball it is customary for a player from the defending team to stand directly in front of the player playing the ball, called the marker. If no marker is present, the tackled player may tap the ball on his boot to start the next play, instead of the normally required play-the-ball. As the tap is faster to perform than the play-the-ball, giving great advantage to the attack, there is almost always a marker. Usually the person who tackled the player becomes a marker because he is the closest to the tackled player. There may be a maximum of two markers for each play-the-ball, the second standing behind the first.

text: The marker(s) must stand directly in front of the tackled player; not doing so will result in a penalty. A marker must also not move towards the ball until the play-the-ball has been completed, otherwise he will be penalised.

text: 40–20 kick[edit]

text: The 40–20 rule was introduced by the ARL in Australia in 1997 to further reward accurate kicking in general play. It has since been adopted in Britain  as well, at all levels. A 40–20 kick must be both accurate and long.  For a successful 40–20:

text:
the kicker must be behind his side's 40-metre line when he kicks the ball,
the ball must first hit the ground within the field of play,
the ball must then go over the sidelines of the field of play (into touch) past the opponent's 20-metre line.

text: The team that kicked is awarded a tap-kick restart from the point that the ball left the field.  Before the 40–20 rule, the non-kicking team would have otherwise been awarded the scrum feed. Until recent years, a successful 40-20 kick resulted in a scrum for the kicking team. This was changed and now the attacking team is awarded a tap restart in line from where the ball went out of bounds.

text: Goal-line drop-outs[edit]

text: If the player in possession of the ball is tackled behind their own goal line, plays the ball over their own dead-ball line, or grounds the ball in their own in-goal area, their team is obliged to perform a drop-kick from between their own goal posts.  This kick must travel over the 10-metre line before it is touched by either team. The goal line drop-out usually gives possession back to the opposing team.

text: The drop-kicking team might attempt to gain possession by executing a short kick and have their players attempt to reach the ball before the other team does, but this carries the risk that the other team could gain possession very close to the try-line. The drop-kicking team might also attempt to gain possession by kicking the ball so that it bounces before going into touch, in that event they would be awarded head and feed at the resulting scrum.

text: This rule is similar to the safety rule in American football. Unlike the safety rule, however, no points are awarded for tackling a player behind his goal line.

text: Tactics[edit]

text: The defensive team and attacking team carry out any number of tactics, within the rules, to achieve their short term and ultimately long term objectives. The tactics below are a basic guide to how the game is typically played. On occasions, enterprising teams may choose to deviate from the typical tactics to surprise their opponents.

text: Attacking tactics[edit]

text: Improving field position[edit]

text: Field position is crucial in rugby league.[9]

text: Ball running[edit]

text: Usually when inside their own half of the field, an attacking team will use low-risk plays to attempt to gain metres while avoiding turning over possession.

text: Hit-up

text: Also known as a drive, this is the act of taking a pass from the dummy-half and running straight into the opposition's defensive line without looking to pass. Hit-ups are usually employed to gain low-risk metres early in the tackle-count, but a good hit-up can also result in a breach of the defensive line. It also tires defenders, who have to stop an on-rushing opponent by putting their bodies on the line. Defending players may be drawn in towards the player hitting the ball up in an effort to make a tackle, possibly leaving other parts of the defensive line weakened for other attackers should the ball-carrier manage to off-load the ball to a teammate. Forwards are usually used for taking hit-ups because of their greater size (often over 100 kg) and strength, although most players on a team will take some hit-ups during a match. Most sets of 6 usually involve at least one hit-up to build a position from which to attack. A set of five hit-ups and a kick is known as one-out rugby,

text:
Dummy-half Scoot
An alternative to a hit-up is for the player in the acting-halfback position to run the ball himself, without passing. This is often performed by quicker players as they are able to round the markers and make ground for their side. Some teams use repeated dummy-half scoots with the intention of playing the ball quickly and catching defenders before they are able to properly position themselves. This is known as quick ball or 'getting a roll on'.

text: Kicking[edit]

text:
Kicks in play can, if successful, result in rapid field advancement. Towards the end of the tackle count, the ball will often find its way to the best kicker on the team who will then return possession of the ball to the other side in the most favourable position for his team by kicking it down to the other end. These kicks are sometimes intended to go into touch (leave the field of play), resulting in a scrum to restart play. Scrums take a while to form, so this gives the attacking team a chance for a short rest before play resumes.
Following a defensive penalty, a team with possession may gain field position by kicking for touch; that is, by kicking the ball on the full over either of the touch lines.  Unlike Rugby Union, which brings the ball back into play with a line-out, the team with possession retains the ball by putting the ball back in play with a tap, in line from where the ball crossed the touch line.  This also gives that team a new set of six tackles.
The 40/20 rule is a relatively new rule created to reward excellence in kicking for touch. When a player on the attacking team kicks the ball from behind his 40-metre line and it goes into touch between the opposition's 20-metre line and goal-line after bouncing at least once within the field of play, a 40/20 is awarded. The usual decision to give the head and feed of the scrum to the non-kicking team when the ball enters touch is reversed if the kick is a 40/20. As scrums are rarely competitive, a successful 40/20 virtually guarantees possession in an attacking position by effectively moving the team from their own 40-metre line to the position where the ball went out.

text: Breaching the defence[edit]

text: In addition to trying to break the defensive line with the sheer force of a hit-up, players attempt to breach the opposing team's defence through combinations of plays, using speed, passing and/or kicking.

text: Ball Running[edit]

text:
Most rugby league tries result from back-line movements which involve deft passing between attacking players to move the ball out quickly to the wings or centres. If the ball movement is quicker than the defensive line's ability to shift to cover the outer attackers, resulting spaces towards the side of the field give opportunities for the faster wingers and centres to score out wide.
The most skilful forwards will, during a hit-up, look to release the ball to a supporting player before the tackle is completed; known as an off-load. The hit-up, if successful, should create spaces in the defensive line due to defending players having been drawn into the tackle. This creates opportunities for the supporting players to breach the defensive line while the defence is busy trying to contain the initial hit-up.
A 'dummy' is a move in which the player with the ball pretends to pass to a teammate, but retains the ball and continues to run with it. The aim of this move is to take advantage of defenders that like to rush up on players who are about to receive the ball. This in effect draws the defending player(s) into the 'supposed' receiver of the ball leaving the player with the ball, unmarked.
Generally, defensive players are assigned a player (or rather a position) which they must account for in defence. Manoeuvres by players on the attacking team are sometimes aimed at foiling this defensive system. A 'run-around' occurs when player A passes the ball to player B, and then circles behind him to receive the ball again from him. This play is designed to take advantage of those defenders who will follow the 'player' and not the 'position' thus luring one or many defenders out of their respective positions in the defensive line, leaving the defensive line punctuated by gaps. The defending team must try to move laterally with the ball across the field to ensure all attacking players remain marked.
A 'face-ball', 'second man play' or 'cut-out pass' is a pass that travels through the air in front of one or more attacking players (who do not catch it) to another player further down the line. Defenders may mistakenly focus on the next player in the attacking line, who does not receive the ball, potentially leaving the actual ball-receiver unmarked.

text: Kicking[edit]

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A chip kick can be used to put the ball behind the defensive line so that either the kicker himself or a teammate can chase or regather it. Sometimes the kicker himself will attempt to regather after an extremely short chip kick over or past the defenders whilst running towards them. Upon kicking, a player is deemed to have relinquished possession of the ball and thus may not be tackled or interfered with by the defence. The kicker's already-existing momentum as he runs towards the opposition's in goal area gives him an advantage over defenders who must turn and chase. However this chip and regather is risky as it is difficult to perform successfully and good defending fullbacks will usually be lurking behind the defensive line, waiting for just this type of kick.
The grubber is more commonly used in a similar play. The grubber kick is commonly performed when close to the in-goal area; the grubber kick causes the ball to roll along the ground which at times, makes the ball jump up into a perfect catching position, easier than catching a punt or other kick. The rolling on the ground gives chasers more opportunities to regather the ball, rather than waiting for the ball to fall back to earth. The rolling also slows down the ball, allowing the kicker to place the kick so that it comes to rest inside the in-goal area.
The bomb is a kick that goes high into the air. Both teams watch and wait for the ball to come down, and both teams usually having an equal chance at regathering it.

text: Defensive tactics[edit]

text: When a side is defending they must prevent metres lost. They must defend against ball runners and kickers.

text: Defending against ball running[edit]

text: Preventing metres lost[edit]

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The easiest way to do this is to select the largest players from the team to do most of the tackling; A larger tackler will force back an attacking player much easier than a smaller tackler.
In preventing metres lost it is also important to 'wrap up the ball' to prevent the attacking player who is currently hitting the ball up from offloading. Offloading causes second phase play.

text: Preventing line breaks[edit]

text: Defending players aim to spread across the field in a single line and stop the attacking players from breaking this line. The 'Slide Defence' and the 'Umbrella Defence' tactics aim to curb the amount of breaks in the line.

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The 'sliding defence' requires that gaps are left at either edge of the field at the end of the defensive line, which aims to squeeze more players around the area of play. This allows the line to be at its strongest around the position of play, thus leaving the attacking side less opportunity to run through the line. Should the attacking side move the ball towards one edge of the field in an attempt to go around the defensive line, then the entire defensive line will move in that direction; this is known as sliding. Because defenders remain on the inside shoulder of attacking players, slide defence effectively uses the touch line as an extra defender. One of the main disadvantages of sliding defence is that it gives the attacking team more time and space with the ball.
The 'umbrella defence' (or 'up and in' defence) requires that players do not spread across the entire field. The defensive line is particularly vulnerable on the edges around the wings, therefore the best defensive measure in this case is a preventative measure. That is, the aim becomes to prevent the attacking team from going to the wings or to disrupt any passes towards the edge of the field. This requires that defensive players (wingers or centres) on the edge of the defensive line move up faster than those in the middle of the line. Umbrella defence is a key tactic for defending against attacking plays close to the goal line, when it can be necessary to quickly shut down attacking players' time and space with the ball.

text: Defending against kicks[edit]

text: An attacking side may kick the ball through or over the defensive line of players. The defence must defend against kicks in the normal field of play and in the in-goal area.

text: Defending the field of play[edit]

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Late in the tackle count, when the attacking side is more likely to kick, the fullback and wingers drop back towards the defending team's in-goal area. As the name suggests, the fullback covers the end of the field and in-goal area whilst the wingers cover the edges of the field and the area between the defensive line and the fullback. A kick to the corner can be more efficiently fielded by a winger than by pulling the fullback out of position, while a long kick to the end of the field is best taken by the fullback. The use of the fullback and wingers to defend against potential kicks allows the other rear defenders to become available to receive a pass as their side receives the ball and begins its set.
While the backs prepare to receive a kick, the other defenders will attempt to apply pressure to the kicker. It is usually rather predictable when a side is about to kick: normally one member of the attacking team is in charge of kicking, and as the team prepares to kick, he will drop back and make himself available deep behind the dummy half, to give himself space and time to set up for the kick. To limit the kicker's effectiveness, the defenders will often rush up out of the defensive line towards him. As well as giving him less time to set up, this action can cloud the kicker's mind, distracting him with thoughts of the upcoming tackle or encouraging him to consider switching to another attacking option due to the sudden change in the defensive line. This combination of physical and mental pressure may lead to a poor kick, giving an advantage to the non-kicking team. This manoeuvre could also result in a 'charge-down', if a defending player manages to get in the way of the ball very shortly after it is kicked (If the ball travels forward this is an exception to the knock-on rule). This often results in a line break or try to the previously defending team, however it runs the risk of having the attacking team regather the ball for a new set of tackles.

text: Defending the in-goal area[edit]

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If the ball is caught on the full by a defender standing in the in-goal area, play halts and possession is awarded to the catcher's team, with play to restart twenty metres from the in-goal area. This is aimed to penalise the attacking team for a poor kick that was easily fielded by the opposition full back whilst awarding the defending team who were skilled enough to field the kick.
A defender will shadow the ball over the touch line to prevent an attacking team member from getting into a position to ground the ball. It is most likely a ball may be heading to touch off a kick from the attacking side. On this occasion, the roles of each team are reversed, where the attacking team becomes the defending and vice versa.
Grounding the ball in-goal or putting the ball into touch are considered last-ditch defensive techniques that prevent the attacking side from scoring. These two moves effectively force a stoppage of play, which means the opposition cannot score. Both of these measures result in a goal-line drop-out, meaning the attacking team retains possession of the ball. Thus, even if an attacking team is unable to score they can regain another set of chances to score by forcing the defending team to perform either of the above two moves; accomplish by placing a kick into the in-goal area.

text: Turning defence into attack[edit]

text: It is commonly said that the best form of defence is attack. A defensive team in rugby league can gain possession of the ball at any stage during an attacking teams set.

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The one-on-one strip is performed by a defender on an attacking player when that defender is the only person involved in the tackle. A player is ruled to be in the tackle if he/she is currently holding onto or has only just recently let go of the attacking player. The strip itself is the act of taking the ball from the arms of an attacking player, thus gaining possession for the defending team (who becomes the attacking team).
An intercept is performed by a defending player coming out of the defensive line in anticipation of a pass that can be prevented from reaching its targeted player. An intercept usually ends in a try because in achieving the interception, the player has passed through the opposition's line of players. The interceptor may or may not have a full back to evade. Speed is a great asset in assuring the interceptor scores a try.
During a tackle, the defensive team may force the attacking player 'into touch' while he's in possession of the ball.  As it is illegal for any part of a player in possession of the ball's body touching the ground outside the field of play, this results in a stoppage of play. Play restarts via a scrum with the head and feed going to the defensive team that forced the attacking player into touch.
Lastly, strong tackles using the size and speed of a defending player can force the ball loose from the impact. The defensive side shall only win a scrum if the ball comes forward out of the tackle towards the in-goal area, (consisting of a knock-on) otherwise the first team to pick up the ball wins possession. Forwards are more effective at this play than the backs because of their size, but it is not unknown for backs to force a ball loose in this manner.

text: Handover[edit]

text: Late in the tackle count the attacking side will start to think defensively in anticipation of a handover,[10] also known as a changeover or turnover. That is, whilst most kicks performed at this time will be primarily for attacking purposes, there is always a defensive element to consider. The attacking team uses these tactics to put themselves in the better defensive position when their set of six ends at the 'change over'.

text: The attacking team uses the bomb in attack, but this attack can quickly turn to defensive if the bomb is fielded by the opposition team. Therefore, there is a defensive element in deciding whether to kick a bomb. A bomb is useful defensively because even if it is fielded by the opposition, it is still useful in giving the kicking team ample time to get as close as possible to the player with the ball which allows the kicking team to prevent the opposing team from making too much ground towards their in goal area.

text: At the end of an attacking team's set of six, the attacking team may wish to kick (grubber or chip kick) the ball in to touch and give the opposition a scrum feed. This is aimed at slowing down play, which gives the players a rest and allows them to set up a good defensive position.

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Kicking into touch gives a scrum to the opposing team, which is better than the alternative; that being the opposing team regathering the ball, forcing the newly defensive side to make the tackle. Thus, putting the ball into touch makes the newly attacking team play from a non-running position, as far away from their in-goal area as possible.
The grubber is used in this manner to prevent the opposing team from trying to regather the ball or to force a mistake if they do try. A grubber also ensures that the ball will fall in the field of play before going in to touch, which would result in a penalty otherwise. A punt in this situation is placed as close to the out of field line as possible, which gives the opposition little chances to regather.

text: Disciplinary sanctions[edit]

text: The standard disciplinary sanction in rugby league is the penalty.  The referee may also award a penalty try, which is described in the section on scoring.

text: If a team that has been penalised commits another offence (often dissent against the referee's decision), the referee may advance the position of the penalty 10 metres towards the offending team's goal line, and may also sin bin (temporary expulsion) or send off (permanent expulsion) the offending player(s).

text: In Britain, the referee uses penalty cards to signal a sin-binning (yellow card) and a sending-off (red card).  In games played in the southern hemisphere, the referee raises both arms straight out with fingers spread (to indicate 10 minutes) for a temporary expulsion and simply points sent-off players from the field of play.